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Thursday, July 19, 2012

Lawmakers Defeat Amendment Barring Military Sponsorship

Rep. Betty McCollum (D-MN)

For the second year in a row, the United
States House of Representatives has voted down an amendment that
would prohibit military sponsorships of NASCAR and other sporting events.

During Wednesday's discussion of H.R. 5856 -- the Department of Defense Appropriations
Act – lawmakers defeated an amendment proposed by Rep. Jack Kingston
(R-Ga.) and Rep. Betty McCollum (D-Minn.) to prohibit sponsorships
of NASCAR, rodeo, professional bass finishing, mixed martial arts and selected other
sports. It was initially defeated by a voice vote, then on a 216-202
recorded vote requested by McCollum.

McCollum and Kingston were the only members to
speak in support of the amendment. McCollum pointed to last week’s decision by the U.S. Army to end its sponsorship of Ryan Newman’s Stewart Haas Racing Chevrolet as proof that military sponsorships have outlived their usefulness. She called teams like Stewart Haas, “military contractors who have failed to deliver on their contract…with the taxpayers."

Seven representatives spoke in opposition, including Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-NC), who testified that the National Guard – sponsor of
Dale Earnhardt, Jr.’s No. 88 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet – has seen a 300%
return on investment from its involvement in NASCAR.

"This is a huge return for the
buck," said McHenry. "This is why Fortune 500 companies advertise
through NASCAR. Not because it feels good, but because it delivers results. And
the fact is, no matter the size of the military, you're still going to need
recruits."

Rep. Larry Kissell (D-NC), echoed McHenry’s thoughts, saying, “The most popular
driver in NASCAR drives the National Guard car. We don't need to strike that
relationship. We need to build on it.”

Rep. Sanford Bishop (D-Ga) said, “A vote for
this amendment is a vote against the effectiveness of our military."

Prior to the decisive second
vote, Kingston told SiriusXM NASCAR Radio’s SiriusXM
Speedway with Dave Moody that he is troubled by a lack of tangible numbers
to support the sponsorship programs.

Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-NC)

“Since February, I have
formally been requesting from the Pentagon… from any branch of the service…
their numbers,” said Kingston. “I have been unable to get them to produce anything.
As somebody whose job it is to watch the tax dollars, when I see a $72 million
program… (they) need to be able to say, `here’s where the money is going and
here are the results of that money.’ The military can’t do that, and to me,
that’s very frustrating. I’m a pro-military guy, but when I ask the Pentagon to
give me the numbers, and they can’t, then I have to question the value of the
program.”

Kingston said he would
endorse NASCAR sponsorships if the Pentagon could produce statistics proving their
efficacy. “If they can justify something, then go for it,” he said. “If they’re
getting all (these) recruits from NASCAR, then double-down and sponsor three or
four cars. But again, they are unable to show us any numbers. They have
cleverly morphed the discussion from approvement (of new recruits) to branding,
(but) the 2001 law that started this was not about branding. It was
specifically about recruiting.”

Kingston declined to explain
why NASCAR was targeted for cuts, with no mention of open wheel, drag racing or
other forms of motorsport in the amendment. “Our numbers would include IndyCar,”
he said. “It does include IndyCar.”

Despite repeated claims to
the contrary, neither the 2011 or 2012 amendments
contained any budget cuts. Both Kingston and McCollum attempted to add 11th-hour
budget-cutting provisions to their amendment Wednesday, in an unsuccessful attempt to secure
votes.

Rep. Jack Kingston (R-Ga)

“Listening to the complaints
of the people who are against this amendment, we took them at their word
(about) wanting to reduce the deficit,” said Kingston. “To those who have said, `I’m going
to vote against the Kingston Amendment because it doesn’t reduce the deficit,' that’s
not true anymore. Now, the money goes 100% into deficit reduction.”

Kingston also said talk of
adding budget cuts to the amendment “has been going on a lot longer than today.
But since the bill was not on the floor until today, we could not officially do
that.

“The criticism was valid on
that (point),” he admitted. “But it has been answered.”

While repeatedly calling
himself, “pro-military and pro-NASCAR,” the Georgia Republican said he has
never attended a NASCAR race. “I’m not a NASCAR expert, but I have great
respect for the sport. I had two Ford
F-150s, and one of them had a black (Dale Earnhardt) #3 sticker on it for three
or four years.”

Marcus Jadotte, NASCAR vice president of public affairs
and multicultural development, said, “We are pleased with the outcome of
today's vote in The House of Representatives. Sports sponsorships work. They
remain a critical part of the marketing mix for a host of other big,
consumer-facing brands like the U.S. Armed Forces. Leaving marketing decisions
like these in the hands of a select few members of Congress is misguided.
Today’s vote continues to protect the ability of our nation’s military to have
access to the same sports marketing platforms as other leading brands. This is
the third time a bipartisan majority has voted to support the military’s
flexibility to decide where to spend their advertising dollars.”

McCollum introduced a separate amendment Wednesday
that would eliminate funding for military bands. It was also defeated.

8 comments:

In the end, it's more than recruitment, it's the jobs, jobs for Americans, jobs that make Americans proud, jobs that support our troops, jobs that pay a huge return in positive morale and roll models for our troops.

Maybe the honorable Representatives could find a lot more waste to cut than the minuscule part of the budget the NASCAR sponsorships represent.

Maybe they should look into the F22 or Osprey programs. I'm sure there's LOTS of waste they could trim there. Lord knows our pilots can't fly the F22's because they absorb rain water and turn off the oxygen supplies. But they went after the low hanging fruit of NASCAR instead.

I found it interesting that two Congressional representatives said that the National Guard was not allowed to advertise on television like the Army, Navy and Marines do. It looks to me like they found a perfect way to do it!!!!!!!!!!

"I'm not a NASCAR expert"... No Kidding?! You drove a Ford around with a Dale Earnhardt sticker.

Let me tell you how that interview made feel Moody. Damn proud to be a NASCAR fan. Damn proud to have you as the voice to represent us. You came off as the more knowledgeable one in terms of not only NASCAR, you happened to have a more in depth knowledge of the bill he helped create as well. It was like our Congressman brought a knife to a gunfight. Not even a new knife. It was a rusty old knife that couldn't cut halfway melted butter on a hot day. Matter of fact, I think he bought the knife in '07-'08...

Thank you. Thank you for being more prepared than he was. I'm not saying that was difficult, just thanks. There's a stereotype that goes with being a fan of this sport we love. You showed we're not a bunch of idiots.

Great job to you and Angie both.

On a side note, you mentioned Tina Gordon being on the website with the stats. She was the driver I drafted at Talladega in the Petty Driving Experience a few years back.